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Local News
They call them "War Wagons." On a recent night shift, a reporter with The Sun accompanied agent Ben Vik on a patrol of West SLU (pronounced "sloo" but meaning West San Luis), which he called "the crucible." It didn't take long before the metallic thuds on the roof signaled the oncoming volley of rocks being thrown from the other side of the fence. "Basically, it's a tank that won't run away," Vik said of the War Wagons. "In 2005, (the rock-throwing) got completely out of control. It (the War Wagon) is just to let them know that we're here and we're not going to run away." Border violence has been on the increase as stepped-up enforcement, which includes National Guard troops posted along the border, has thwarted more and more smuggling attempts. Assaults on Border Patrol agents were up 22 percent between fiscal year 2005 and 2006, according to the patrol. "Border bandit" incidents — robberies reported only by illegal immigrants captured by Border Patrol — had increased by 1,061 percent from 18 incidents among 96 immigrants in 2005, to 209 incidents involving 1,420. Since there are millions of dollars to be made in the illegal transport of humans and contraband, smugglers are taking a hit in the pocketbook — and therefore, they are getting more aggressive. On a recent night well lit by a full moon, agents could watch through breaks in the fence as suspected members of Los Wonders Boys gang gathered on a bridge in San Luis Rio Colorado, Son. Some flashed gang symbols as agent Vik flashed a spotlight on them. Continuing down the line up to the salinity canal, Vik's tuned ears heard a brief but sharp whistle. Smugglers communicate with signs and catcalls. Just then, a man could be seen scuttling from a bridge on the Mexico side to behind the fence. Muffled shouts could be heard, and then the rocks flew. The dull thud of rocks hitting the sand in front of the War Wagon were first heard. And then the throwers adjusted their range. Rocks hit the cage covering the side window. Rocks hit the roof and the cage covering the blue and red lights. They ranged from golf ball-sized stones and grapefruit-sized slags of concrete or dirt clumps that would shatter in a hail of smaller pebbles upon impact. Vik said the sudden presence of the War Wagon might have just thwarted a smuggling attempt. There had been activity all throughout the 6 p.m. to midnight shift. A group of about seven had been apprehended earlier. And Border Patrol tracked another group after an agent spotted a wet spot on the ground near the canal. According to Vik, smugglers throw rocks out of sheer contempt, but they also do it for distraction. They think that by throwing rocks, agents won't get out of their vehicles, thereby buying some time for their payloads. In July, two agents in the Tucson sector were shot by what was believed to be a high-powered rifle. Vik said people on the other side of the fence once dumped a section of a log on a War Wagon, and he also expressed concern over "Molotov cocktails" — fuel-filled glass bottles with a rag stuffed into the neck that's set afire before being tossed. As for the rock throwers, they were of lesser concern. "Happens all the time," he said. Bryon Wells can be reached at bwells@yumasun.com or 539-6852.  |
The ‘War Wagon’
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